Paramedic in the running to be torchbearer for Olympic Torch Relay

A South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) paramedic has reached the second stage of the nomination process to be one of the London 2012 Olympic torchbearers.

Paramedic Practitioner, Jeanette Yeoell, from Hastings was nominated for her heroic actions when in November 2009 she broke down the door to a burning house to rescue an elderly woman who had been badly burnt.

The nomination will now be reviewed by one of 12 regional selection panels which will be looking for 2,012 individuals with the most inspirational stories of personal achievement and/or contribution to the local community.

If successful, Jeanette will be offered a place as one of the 8,000 torchbearers needed in total for the Olympic Torch Relay.

Also a seasoned marathon runner, Jeanette competed in the first-ever UK women's marathon in the 1970s and has also completed numerous marathons including London, New York and Boston.

Jeanette said: "It's an amazing opportunity and would be a real honour if I was chosen. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it would be a privilege to represent the ambulance service."

Jeanette has a one in 14 chance of being selected to take part. She will learn if she has been successful during the week beginning 5 December 2011.